I Timothy 4
Paul continues to warn against false teachersverses 1-5
Now the Spirit speaks expressly -that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith – giving heed to seducing spirits
doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy
having their conscience seared with a hot iron
forbidding to marry – and commanding to abstain from meats
which God has created to be received with thanksgiving
of them which believe and know the truth
For every creature of God is good – and nothing to be refused
IF it be received with thanksgiving – FOR it is sanctified by the
word of God and prayer
Encouraging Timothy to teach the truthverses 6-10
IF you put the brethren in remembrance of these things
you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ
nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine
whereunto you have attained
BUT refuse profane and old wives’ fables
and exercise yourself rather to godliness
FOR bodily exercise profits little
BUT godliness is profitable unto all things
having promise of the life that now is
and of that which is to come
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation
for therefore we both labor and suffer reproach
BECAUSE we trust in the living God
WHO is the Savior of all men
specially of those that believe
Timothy is to be a good exampleverses 11-13
These things command and teach
let no man despise your youth
but be you an example of the believer in
word – conversation – charity – spirit – purity
Till I come – give attendance to reading – exhortation – doctrine
Timothy is to use his spiritual giftverses 14-16
Neglect not the gift that is in you
which was given you by prophecy
with the laying on of hands of the presbytery
Meditate upon these things
give yourself wholly to them
that your profiting may appear to all
Take heed to yourself – and to your doctrine – continue in them
for in doing this you shall both save yourself
and them that hear you
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (2743 “seared” [kauteriazo] means to brand, be insensitive to, or to glow with a burning iron)
DEVOTION: Paul is warning the believers in the church at Ephesus that there are individuals who have learned to practice lying without it bothering their conscience. Their conscience is dead to the truth. They are not believers. They are tools of the devil and his demons to lead individuals away from the LORD.
They are individuals that teach the opposite of what God wants taught in the church. They are teaching people that they don’t need to be married to have sexual relationships. They don’t have to marry individuals of the opposite sex. They don’t have to raise their children to honor the LORD.
These individuals are able to say things that are hypocritical while putting on a front of being a follower of God.
They have all the right speech. They have all the right actions but there is not truth in what they are saying and doing. They thrive on leading people away from the LORD.
Satan in the Garden lied without having a problem. His fallen angels or demons are doing the same in human beings today. We see many movies that talk about demon possession. The individual gives themselves to this possession by their actions and then works on others to bring them into Satan’s camp.
Playing with our conscience can be dangerous. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit should be guiding us each day into the truth of what God expects of us. If we are listening to them when one of these false teachers who are followers of the devil come along we will be able to discern if they are telling the truth.
Check out those who are not living for the LORD. They want you to follow their actions rather than the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Watch out that you don’t become insensitive to the teachings of the Word of God through those you are watching on television or the movies. False teachers will never stand the test of the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. (579 “refused” [apobletos] means thrown away, rejected, dispised, abominated, as unclean, or describing something that should be removed or cast away form oneself)
DEVOTION: Faith plus works save you. Is this a proper statement based on the Word of God? The answer is always NO! It is faith alone in Jesus Christ that gives us the gift of eternal life.
Many false teachers will add to what is required to be saved. Here we have individuals coming to those who are followers of God through Jesus Christ saying that they have to eat a certain diet in order to be truly saved. It is a lie from hell. It is saying that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross was not enough to appease the Father in heaven. They are lying.
We are to eat each meal with a prayer of thanksgiving for what the LORD has provided for us. The word “sanctify” found in the next verse informs us that God has set apart all foods for our enjoyment. We are not to be gluttons. We are to eat what we need to keep us healthy.
However, Peter had to see this point when God wanted to show him that the Gentiles were to be saved as well as the Jews. He had a vision of animals that were not allowed in the Jewish diet before the coming of Christ. Now these animals were approved by God to eat.
We live in a different time period than the Old Testament. The dietary rules don’t apply today. Remember that God has never taken away the Ten Commandments or other rules. The Law of Moses is a guide to show us that we are still sinners today in need of a sacrifice for our sins which Jesus Christ was on the cross through the shedding of HIS blood for all those who believe
CHALLENGE: Are we thankful for what the LORD gives us each day? Does the Bible tell us that we should be? Then we have to practice appreciating what the LORD gives us each day.
: 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (3874 “exhortation” [paraklesis] means comfort, encouragement, to console, help, consolation, or powerful hortatory discourse)
DEVOTION: Paul wanted Timothy to continue learning and sharing what he had learned with others. He instructed him to give careful attention to reading of the Word of God. He as to read on a regular basis what was taught by the Old Testament authors. He was to read the letters of the apostles. He was to read the writings of those who wrote the gospels.
He was to exhort or encourage others to listen to these writings. He was to spread what Paul and Peter had been preaching. He was to never give upon helping others understand the Word of God. Remember the Holy Spirit is our teacher regarding the truths that need to be used to challenge others to grow in the LORD. Preaching not only helps those who are listening it also helps the preacher understand better the truths of the Word of God. Each pastor needs to learn truth before he shares it with others.
Finally, Timothy was to give himself over to sound doctrine or teaching. He had to come to a systematic way of putting truths together to form a correct understanding regarding any truth that he taught.
We have the twelve basic doctrines or teachings of the Word of God listed on each devotional. As we look at a chapter of the Word of God we see where each teaching fits in to the whole counsel of God. Once we have a Biblical theology we can then move to a Systematic theology. If our Systematic theology is not found in our Biblical theology we are not teaching the truth of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: We are not to be followers of men or their systems more than be a follower of the truths taught in the Word of God alone. We are to study to show ourselves approved.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all. (3191 “meditate” [meletao] means to take care of, revolve in the mind, imagine, keep thinking about, practice, continue to do, cultivate, attend to carefully, or ponder.)
DEVOTION: Paul continues to instruct Timothy in the proper lifestyle for pastors and leaders. He wants to warn him that in the later times there will be many people practicing false teachings. They will have individuals entering the churches and teach things that are against the Word of God.
One of the first practice that there would be false teaching regarding was what Christians can eat. He tells Timothy that all foods are given by God and are to be sanctified by prayer.
Timothy is to instruct all the brethren in the truths presented by Paul. Paul says that as a good minister he is to feed the people with the words of faith and good doctrine.
Timothy was also told to ponder his lifestyle. He is to be concerned with living a godly life. He is to labor and suffer reproach because of his faithfulness to the LORD. He is to give himself to reading and exhorting and teaching of doctrine. He is not to neglect the gift from the Holy Spirit that was witnessed by the laying on of hands by fellow leaders. Those who were under his teaching were not to despise his young age. He was to read the Scriptures and warn people where they didn’t meet with the standards of Scripture. But before the warning of others was to come was the carefully understanding of what the Word was saying to him.
We need to apply the Word to our lives before we apply it to others. The word “doctrine” just means “teaching” in the Greek language. We are to teach what we know concerning the Word of God because that is what we are reading.
What are you learning today from your reading of the Word? Are we pondering what the verses mean to us as individuals? Are we really studying the Word of God or just reading to get through it? Timothy was not to neglect the gift that he received from the Holy Spirit. His gift was preaching the Word. Each of us received a gift from the Holy Spirit when we became a follower of the LORD. That gift is to be used in the local church to help it move forward for the LORD. Each of us needs to use our gift. Are we using our gift or neglecting our gift? Are we using it now to help our local church move forward for the LORD?
CHALLENGE: Discover your gift. This can be done by asking others what they see the LORD doing in our lives. Once you discover your gift – use it for the glory of the LORD!
:16 Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you. (1961 “continue” [epimeno] means 1 to stay at or with, to tarry still, still to abide, to continue, remain. 1a of tarrying in a place. 1b to persevere, continue. 1b1 of the thing continued in. 1b2 in the work of teaching. 1b3 of the blessing for which one keeps himself fit. 1b4 denoting the action persisted in. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Ever wonder why you hear of someone who you thought was a strong Christian who then falls into sin or even leaves the faith? It is certainly the case that, in Christianity, not as many finish well as start well. Satan seems to be adept is leading even those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ astray and compromise with major sins.
Paul has now lived most of his life as a follower of Jesus Christ, and he is warning Timothy to continue strong in the faith. Another reason that people start strong and do not finish well is that there is a certain idealism in our teens and 20s that makes us want to commit to following Jesus, but the desire for security and for comfort (and not to suffer) makes us more vulnerable to compromise as we get older. We get soft! We even see this in pastors who finish their training, and now want to settle down in a church where they make large salaries.
Then there is the allure of just wanting to be comfortable. All too often we settle for materialism or some other god in place of the LORD. We go along with the world in wanting something that is bigger, better, or faster. In doing so, we forget that there is a world out there which is going into a Christ-less eternity.
Paul wants Timothy that it is a constant continuous choice for us to grow in the Christian faith. That means that not only do we not see ourselves as having arrived at our final destination in this life, but that we also continue to learn more about what the Bible teaches and apply it to our daily lives.
CHALLENGE: If Jesus were to return today or take you home, would He find you still being a student of the things of God? Or have you made one or more compromises with sin and lost your first love? Ask God today to show you how to stay on track to finish your life well for Him! (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Meditateverse 15
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Food sanctified by prayerverses 3-5
Prayer of Thanksgivingverses 3, 4
Sanctifiedverse 5
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of Godverse 4
Words of faithverse 6
Faithful and acceptation sayingverse 9
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 3-5, 10
Creatorverse 3
Creature of Godverse 4
God is goodverse 4
Word of Godverse 5
Living Godverse 10
Saviorverse 10
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesusverse 6
Christ verse 6
Jesus Christ verse 6
Living Godverse 10
Savior of all menverse 10
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit speaks expresslyverse 1
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Seducing spiritsverse 1
Devils (fallen angels)verse 1
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Bodily exercise profits littleverse 8
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Depart from the faithverse 1
Giving heed to seducing spiritsverse 1
Giving heed to doctrines of devilsverse 1
Speaking lies in hypocrisyverse 2
Conscience searedverse 2
Forbidding to marryverse 3
Abstain from meatverse 3
Profane and old wives’ fablesverse 7
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Faithverses 1, 6
Thanksgivingverses 3, 4
Believeverses 3, 10
Truthverse 3
Sanctifiedverse 5
Prayerverse 5
Nourishing fellow believersverse 6
Good Doctrineverses 6, 13, 16
Attainedverse 6
Godliness – profitable unto all thingsverses 6, 7
Promise of lifeverse 8
Laborverse 10
Suffer reproachverse 10
Trustverse 10
Believersverse 12
Giftverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverse 6
Good ministerverse 6
Commandverse 11
Teachverse 11
No man despise youthverse 12
Timothy an Exampleverse 12
Word
Conversation
Charity
Spirit
Faith
Purity
Give attendance verse 13
Reading
Exhortation
Doctrine
Timothy to not neglect giftverse 14
Prophecy
Laying on hands of presbytery
Timothy to meditateverse 15
Profiting may appear to all
Timothy to take heed of himselfverse 16
Doctrine
Save yourself and them that hear
Last Things (Future Events)
Latter timesverse 1
Life is to comeverse 8
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QUOTES regarding passage
4:10. To this end, said Paul, we labor and strive—that is, to develop the godliness of verse 8. The word “strive” translates agōnizometha (“I agonize”), another athletic term. Paul practiced what he had just preached to Timothy (cf. Col. 1:29). We have put our hope renders ēlpikamen, a perfect tense denoting an action with the results continuing. The durative quality of Paul’s confidence is stressed. Paul knew his struggle was worth it because his hope was set, not on himself, some philosophy of life, other men, or nonexistent gods—but in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. The mention of the “living” God picks up the reference in 1 Timothy 3:15; the stress on God as “Savior” picks up 1:1 and 2:3. Again Paul stated that God is the Savior of “all men” (cf. 2:2, 4, 6) since He desires that all be saved and He provided Christ as the ransom (2:6) to make that salvation possible. Yet God is the Savior of those who believe in a special way since only in them has His desire for their salvation come to fruition. (Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 740). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
But godly living not only helps us and other believers; it also has its influence on the lost. Paul reminded pastor Timothy that Jesus Christ is the Saviour (1 Tim. 4:10), and it is the believer’s task to share that Good News with the lost. In effect he wrote, “We Christians have fixed our hope in the living God, but the lost have no hope and do not know the living God. All that many of them know are the dead idols that can never save them.”
The title “Saviour of all men” does not imply that everybody will be saved (universalism), or that God saves people in spite of themselves; for Paul added “specially of those that believe.” It is faith that saves one’s soul (Eph. 2:8–10). Since God “will have all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4), and since Christ “gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6), then any lost sinner can trust Christ and be saved. Christ is “the Saviour of all men,” so nobody need despair.
Timothy should not fear to practice the Word of God and apply it to the life of the church, for this Word is “a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation” (1 Tim. 4:9). These faithful sayings made up a summary of truth for the early church (see 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8). The fact that Timothy was a young man (the word then applied to a person from youth to forty) should not deter him from practicing the Word. In fact, he was to “command” these things, and this is our military word “charge” (1 Tim. 1:3). The local church is a unit in God’s spiritual army, and its leaders are to pass God’s orders along to the people with authority and conviction. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 226–227). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
4:10 hope. Believers are saved in hope and live and serve in light of that hope of eternal life (Tit 1:2; 3:7; see note on Ro 5:2). Working to the point of exhaustion and suffering rejection and persecution are acceptable because believers understand they are doing God’s work—which is the work of salvation. That makes it worth all of the sacrifices (Php 1:12–18, 27–30; 2:17; Col 1:24, 25; 2Ti 1:6–12; 2:3, 4, 9, 10; 4:5–8). the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Paul is obviously not teaching universalism, that all people will be saved in the spiritual and eternal sense, since the rest of Scripture clearly teaches that God will not save everyone. Most will reject Him and spend eternity in hell (Mt 25:41, 46; Rev 20:11–15). Yet, the Gr. word translated “especially” must mean that all people enjoy God’s salvation in some way like those who believe enjoy His salvation. The simple explanation is that God is the Savior of all people, only in a temporal sense, while of believers in an eternal sense. Paul’s point is that while God graciously delivers believers from sin’s condemnation and penalty because He was their substitute (2Co 5:21), all people experience some earthly benefits from the goodness of God. Those benefits are: 1) common grace—a term that describes God’s goodness shown to all mankind universally (Ps 145:9) in restraining sin (Ro 2:15) and judgment (Ro 2:3–6), maintaining order in society through government (Ro 13:1–5), enabling man to appreciate beauty and goodness (Ps 50:2), and showering him with temporal blessings (Mt 5:45; Ac 14:15–17; 17:25); 2) compassion—the broken-hearted love of pity God shows to undeserving, unregenerate sinners (Ex 34:6, 7; Ps 86:5; Da 9:9; Mt 23:37; Lk 19:41–44; cf. Is 16:11–13; Jer 48:35–37); 3) admonition to repent—God constantly warns sinners of their fate, demonstrating the heart of a compassionate Creator who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze 18:30–32; 33:11); 4) the gospel invitation—salvation in Christ is indiscriminately offered to all (Mt 11:28, 29; 22:2–14; Jn 6:35–40; Rev 22:17; cf. Jn 5:39, 40). God is, by nature, a saving God. That is, He finds no pleasure in the death of sinners. His saving character is revealed even in how He deals with those who will never believe, but only in those 4 temporal ways. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 4:10). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 10. For therefore we both labour, &c.] Not in the word and doctrine, though they did; nor in the exercise of internal godliness, though there is a work in faith, and a labour in love; nor with their own hands, at their trades and business, to support themselves, and others; but by enduring hardships and afflictions, as stripes, imprisonment, weariness, pain, watchings, fastings, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness; see 2 Cor. 11:23–27. And suffer reproach; with patience and cheerfulness. The Alexandrian copy, and another manuscript, read, we strive; or contend even to an agony, combating with sin, Satan, and the world, with profane men, and with false teachers; and to all this they were animated by the promises made to godliness; and therefore they shewed it by their practices, or rather by their sufferings, that they believed it to be a true and faithful saying; and which is further confirmed by what follows: because we trust in the living God; for the accomplishment of the said promises, who has power, and therefore can, and is faithful, and therefore will, make good what he has promised; and since it is life he has promised, faith is the more encouraged to trust in him, since he is the living God, in opposition to, and distinction from, lifeless idols; he has life in himself, essentially, originally, and independently, and is the author and giver of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal, unto others. Wherefore there is good reason to trust in him for the fulfilling of the promises of the present and future life, made unto godliness. Who is the Saviour of all men; in a providential way, giving them being and breath, upholding them in their beings, preserving their lives, and indulging them with the blessings and mercies of life; for that he is the Saviour of all men, with a spiritual and everlasting salvation, is not true in fact. Specially of those that believe; whom though he saves with an eternal salvation; yet not of this, but of a temporal salvation, are the words to be understood: or as there is a general providence, which attends all mankind, there is a special one which relates to the elect of God; these are regarded in Providence, and are particularly saved and preserved before conversion, in order to be called; and after conversion, after they are brought to believe in Christ, they are preserved from many enemies, and are delivered out of many afflictions and temptations; and are the peculiar care and darlings of Providence, being to God as the apple of his eye: and there is a great deal of reason to believe this, for if he is the Saviour of all men, then much more of them who are of more worth, value, and esteem with him, than all the world beside; and if they are saved by him with the greater salvation, then much more with the less; and if he is the common Saviour of all men, and especially of saints, whom he saves both ways, then there is great reason to trust in him for the fulfilment of the promises of life, temporal and eternal, made to godliness, and godly persons. This epithet of God seems to be taken out of Psal. 17:7 where he is called מושיע חוסים, the Saviour of them that trust, or believe. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 296). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
(a) An Exclamation (4:10)
At this point, Paul made a brief comment that probably refers to the persecution that was gaining momentum throughout the Roman Empire: “Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” The word translated “Saviour” here was used of the emperor by those who followed the state religion. Nero claimed to be both savior and god. Christians, who refused to acknowledge him as either, were regarded as traitors and apostates and were persecuted savagely. Nero found them to be convenient scapegoats on whom he could heap the blame for his own crimes.
The believers suffered reproach because they trusted in the living God. However, they refused to deny Him no matter how savagely they were persecuted. The word translated “suffer reproach” can also be rendered “are reviled.” The expression conveys the idea of defamation of character. Paul chose to use that word because he knew that Christians were being falsely charged with the most atrocious crimes by their enemies. Even at a time when they were called upon to endure the scorn and slander of the world, the believers sought to live godly lives. They carried on with the Lord’s work and put their confidence in the living God.
Paul described God as “the Saviour of all men.” He is the Savior of all men in the sense that He stays His hand. He does not punish each transgression immediately, as He did in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–10). That judgment was exemplary, a terrible warning concerning the holiness of the Spirit of God and the heinousness of human sin. Were God to punish our sins the moment they are committed with the full penalty they deserve, the human race would come to a quick end. Note that before God sentenced Adam and Eve, He sentenced the serpent—and that sentence contained a clause concerning the coming Redeemer for the human race. That made possible a stay of execution and a provision for Adam and Eve’s salvation and covering (Gen. 3:14–21).
All people live under a suspended sentence while God’s grace holds back His wrath. The Holy Spirit is abroad in the world, dealing with all men everywhere. Thus, John wrote of “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). Only when people deliberately reject the Light do they become fully culpable (John 3:19–20).
First John 2:1–2 puts it thus: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” In other words, the sacrifice of Calvary is sufficient for all men; and all are brought provisionally under its umbrella until they reach the point of decision and accountability.
First John 1:8–9 describes the activating principle: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When people believe, God’s salvation becomes fully operative in the soul. The sacrifice of Calvary becomes efficient to save fully and forever when people respond properly to it. The Lord Jesus is the Savior “specially [most of all] of those that believe.” (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Pastoral Epistles: An Expository Commentary (1 Ti 4:10). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
However, God especially, to the fullest degree, provides and protects believers by providing for them eternal salvation. Those who have experienced the grace of Christ should especially hope in His goodness. (p1900, The MOODY Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
But a seared conscience is left scarred, unable to assess truth and error, incapable of producing godly behavior.
Evil frequently begins in decent places—in philosophical discussions at the university, in debates at seminary, in sermons at church. Falsehood often comes dressed up and attractive. (K. Larson)
These deceivers are not acting under delusion, but deliberately, and against their conscience. They wear the form of godliness, and contradict their profession by their crooked conduct (2 Tim. 3:5). The brand is not on their brow, but on their conscience. (Vincent)
When skin, a nerve or a superficial tumour is cauterized, it is destroyed by burning and so rendered insensitive. Just so, a cauterized conscience has been ‘anaesthetized’, even deadened. ‘By constantly arguing with conscience, stifling its warnings and muffling its bell’,8 its voice is smothered and eventually silenced. In that state of moral insensibility false teachers easily fall prey to error.
The grim sequence of events in the career of the false teachers has now been revealed. First, they turned a deaf ear to their conscience, until it became cauterized. Next, they felt no scruple in becoming hypocritical liars. Thirdly, they thus exposed themselves to the influence of deceiving spirits. Finally, they led their listeners to abandon the faith. It is a perilous downward path from the deaf ear and the cauterized conscience to the deliberate lie, the deception of demons and the ruination of others. It begins when we tamper with our conscience. Instead, we need to say with Paul: ‘I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man (John Stott )
Theology is not genuine theology until it is lived theology. Theology is our understanding of God and our understanding of how HE works. This understanding then determines how we are to live before the living God. This is why the first step toward spiritual apostasy is the abandonment of doctrinal truth (@ Tim. 4:3. As leaders we must continually demonstrate the reality of our theology. People must see in us the difference our theology makes in our attitudes and actions both within the church and in our daily lives. (p. 50, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Jesus prepares His disciples for His death.
INSIGHT
If there is anything between you and the Lord, He will pinpoint it and ask you to give it up. He wants total commitment — nothing less.
That does not mean you cannot be committed to other things. It just means that He wants nothing to be higher on your priority list than He is.
A husband must be committed to his wife and children. A professional must be committed to his job. But all must be committed to the Lord first.
The rich young ruler learned this in a very painful lesson. We can learn from his experience: Put the Lord first. (Quiet Walk)
PARTICULAR SINS
…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling. Ephesians 1:18
The New Testament method of dealing with particular sins is never to concentrate upon the particular sin as such, but to bring it into the light and the context of the whole Christian position. I cannot emphasize that principle too strongly. Speaking out of pastoral experience, I have found in practice that this particular principle is probably the most important of all.
May I give you one illustration? I remember a lady once, some twenty years ago, coming to tell me of a crippling problem in her spiritual life. She told me that she had a terrible horror and dread of thunderstorms. Apparently she had once been in a bad thunderstorm, and it had looked as if she might be killed. Ever since then the fear of thunder and lightning had gripped her, and it had come to such a pass that if she was going to a place of worship and happened to see a large cloud, she would begin to say to herself, “A thunderstorm is coming!” So there would be a terrible conflict within her, and it usually ended in her turning back and going home. It seemed to her that the one problem of her life was this fear and dread of thunderstorms. She told me she had struggled with this problem and had done her best to get rid of it.
Now it seemed to me that the one thing to say to that woman was this—and it came as a shock to her, “Stop praying about this particular fear, for while you are praying, you are reminding yourself of it. You must stop thinking about yourself in terms of fear. Never think about thunderstorms; turn your back upon that altogether.You must think of yourself as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who belongs to Him. You must concentrate upon positive Christianity, not upon a negative fear.”
A Thought to Ponder: Bring a particular sin into the light and context of the whole Christian position.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 77-78, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Babes in Christ
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” (1 Corinthians 14:20)
The Christian life is entered by the new birth so that everyone who is genuinely born again must begin as a spiritual babe. “Except ye be converted, and become as little children,” said the Lord Jesus, “ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Furthermore, they should continue to be as innocent children insofar as “malice” (Greek kakia, literally meaning “wickedness” or “evil”) is concerned. This is an attribute that should diminish, not grow, in a believer.
The sad truth, however, is that many born-again Christians remain spiritual babes in attributes that should characterize strong men and women of God. Paul equated the term “babes in Christ” with carnality, characterized by “envying, and strife, and divisions” (1 Corinthians 3:1, 3). Paul also speaks of those Christians as “children” who are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). He urges each one to be “speaking the truth in love,” so that we “may grow up into him [Christ] in all things” (Ephesians 4:15).
Spiritual growth, of course, can come only through spiritual food and spiritual exercise. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).
Christians should become mature, both in understanding and in behavior. The last reference to growth in the Bible applies to each Christian: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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